Washing-machine



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1. P. BULGBR.

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 352,443. Y Patented Nov. 9, 1886.

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(No Model.) 2 sheetssheet 2. P. BULGER. WASHING MACHINE.

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N. PETERS. Phomuxhgmpher. wnshingmn. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER BULGER, OF SHANER STATION, PENNSYLVANIA.

WASHING'- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Vof Letters Patent No. 352,443, dated November 9, 1886. Application filed February 26, i886. Serial No. 193,357. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, PETER BULGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shaner Station, (Yohoghany P.`O.,) in the county ofl My invention relates to that class of wash! ing-machines known as roller and bed, and has for its object to provide a machine which will cleanse equally well light or heavy I large or small articles of personal wear or domestic use in a thorough manner, and which will be of few parts, not liable to get out of repair, and easy to operate; and it consists of the parts and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is an end elevation of my improved machine; Fig. 2, a cross-section; Fig. 3, a plan view; Fig. 4, a perspective view of the concave; Fig; 5, a detail View of the auxiliary spring, and Fig. 6 a detail View showing the arrangement of the splash-plates.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. y

A represents a suds box or tub, being in this instance shaped so as to flare outwardly on both sides, the ends being vertical; Ybut it may be of any other suitable shape. Openings B are formed in the upper edges of the ends of the box, and around these openings on the inner sides of the ends square pieces of galvanized iron or zinc a are inserted and secured, (see dotted lines in Fig. l and detail View, Fig. 6,) so that a space is left between them and the innersurface of the ends of the box to receivev the splash-plates r, each of the latter being provided with an opening in its center through which the axle h2 of the roller or drum H passes.

slopping out through the openingsB when the machine is in operation.

These plates r prevent the sndsY A s an additional defense against splashing of the suds, I provide the galvanized iron or zinc fenders s, which are attached to the removable side pieces, T, and also project down into the space between the pieces c and the inner surfaces of the ends of the box. These fenders s extend beyond the pieces a some distance on each side of the concave M, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. On one side of and within the box I secure upright guides G, and to the bottom of the box, immediately 'at the lower ends of the guides, are secured the retaining-irons b. These irons extend across from side to side of the box and have their ends bent, the ends nearest they guides beingv turned completely over and the opposite ends being bent at right angles. On these irons `the curved iiat springs P, which are attached to and forni a yielding support for the concave or bed M, rest, the bent ends of the irons forming stops forthe ends of the spring P. A

The concave or bed M is formed of slats or staves o, which, as shown in Fig. 2, when in their normal position only touch each other at their inner edges, a triangular space separating their bodies, owing to the fact that their edges are beveled. The staves o are secured in any suitable manner to the spring-metal bands O, to form a concave, and are provided with the galvanized iron or zinc rubbing-surface n, corrugated in the usual manner. This rubbingsurface is secured to the coneaveat its ends only, leaving it wholly free of the body ofthe concave from end to end,whereby the concave 8 so that they will move easily /in the guides C i without creating too great friction.

To the ends of the box, on the inside, ashort distance above thebottom, platesd aresecured 9o by screws or otherwise, into which the bent,

ends of the rock-shaft or rod Dare journaled. To this shaft arod, E, is secured, by which the said shaft may be operated. The shaft D is A forced down upon the Ysprings P to hold the roo saine securely in position, the upper end of rod E being bent so as to fit into a recessor catch, e, formed in the side of the box to hold the'shaft down. lWhen it is desired for any reason to remove the concave, the rod E is released from the recess e, permitting the springs Pto force the shaftD and ro'dE upwardly,when the concave can be readily lifted from thebox.

On the axle h2 the drum or rollerH ishung. This (lrumis constructed in the usual way,with a corrugated metal surface tenoned in disks which project slightly beyond the corrugated surface. The axle h2 is journaled in bearings h, Fig. 3, which are welded or riveted to the springs F, one on each of` the boxes. These springs are somewhat elliptical in shape, or curve upwardly in both directions from their centers and then downwardly to their ends,

where they terminate in eyes. One end of each spring F is hinged by means of its eye g and a removable pin to `the upper end of a short stiii spring, G, the lower end of which l is secured to the flange of the box. The pins are retained in place by at springs g2, which are secured to the edges of the flanges of the box and project over `the heads of the pinsv ing-irons L, attached to the flanges of the box.

The bent ends lc of the lever K enter the eyes on the ends of the springs F. To adjust and support the lever K, I attach a short rod, m, to the end of bent arm of thelever K, outside of eyes on springs F, the lower end of which is adapted to be inserted in the openings Z of irons L. Thus it' will be seen that by simply moving the rod m up or down greater or less pressure is brought to bear, through the medium of the springs F, on the drum or roller H, and through that on the articles being cleansed, and that the concave, being iiexible, will adjust itself so as to accommodate articles of dierent size and varying quantities to be washed.

As will be observed from the foregoing description, the drum is self-adjusting; or, in

other words, it being .hungl or supported ony springs will always return to the position to which it has been adjusted by the rod m. The openings B are suiciently large to permit great latitude to the axle, which is capable of moving in all directions, owing to the peculiar shape of springs F. 'The plates r follow the axle in all movements, the piece a, being much larger than the plate, permitting ot this. Cranks W are attached to the axle, by which the machine is operated.

` The above description embraces an operative machine; but to further brace the concave, when very large articles are to be washed, I provide the auxiliary spring device shown in detail in Fig. 5. This consists of the plate p, securedto one side of the box by screws or otherwise, carrying the lugs cured lto the under side of a ilat spring, Q,

Vfits, and is pivotally secured by means of the removable pin or bolt p. The spring Q curves in opposite directions, its longest end running down -alongside the middle of the concave, and its shortest end standing out beyond the box. To this end a rod, R, ishooked, its lower end being caught within the forks of the spring S, which is fastened to the side of the box and curves outwardly therefrom. This device gives great staying power to the concave, and yet gives when a pressure greater than the resisting power ofthe springs Q S is exertedv on the concave, but still preserving the pressure on the goods under treatment, so as to secure the best results. This pressure is uniform and steady on the goods, vand prevents them being-cleansed only in streaks.

It is often necessary to adjust the size of the mouth of the concave to receive very large articles; and for this purpose I attach the wire loops w w, one on each side of the mouth, to the concave, and secure a chain, w', thereto, whereby the mouth may be widened and the chain secured to a hook in the side of the box.

The side pieces, T, are held in position by means of the iron brace-bars t, which enter openings in the edges of the pieces T.

The articles to be cleansed are placed between the roller and concave; or they maybe laid directly on the roller, which, upon being rotated, carries them forward to and be- `ing the springs I in position, substantially as described.

.2. The combination, in a washing-machine, of the yielding roller or drum H, the yielding concave M, the springs P O', the retaining-irons b', the guides C, rock shaft D, and rod E, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.`

3. The combination, in a washing-machine,

of the roller H, the yielding concave M, the bow-springs P, curved springs O', retainingirons b, guides C, the auxiliary hinged spring Q, rod R, and curved spring S, secured to the box A, substantially as described.

4. A concave or bed for washing-machines, consisting of the staves o, spring-metal bands O, having their edges beveled, and the corrugated rubbing-surface n, the ends Aonly of the latter being secured to the staves, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ICO

. The combination, in a. Washing-machine, In testimony whereof affix my signature i of the drum or roller H, the elliptical springs in presence of two witnesses.

F, provided. with a, bearing for said roller, the PETER BULGER springs G, bent lever K, supporting-irons L,

5 having the perforations l, and rod m, whereby Witnesses:

the springs F may be adjusted, substantially PHILIP MAURO, as described.A H. J. DALY. 

